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the knights of medieval England

Stop sternly lectures the profusely sweating kid

an approaching truck

they’re attacked by hostile Indians

almost too late

stomps on the brakes

The Safety Twins, named "Stop" and "Go", are two otherwise-identical boys – each of whom have pointy-topped haircuts that resemble either Herge’s "Tin-Tin" or Martin Short’s "Ed Grimley" -- who have flat signs that read "Stop" and "Go". Whether these are supposed to be actual signs or traffic signals is unknown, but one thing’s for certain – they make for some truly bizarre-looking spokescharacters for safety!

As its cover states, STOP AND GO, THE SAFETY TWINS was "produced and distributed in support of National Safety Council’s Accident Prevention Program". The presentation of the high-quality artwork and printing in STOP AND GO, THE SAFETY TWINS provide ample evidence that the material in this 16-page "giveaway" comic book was produced by the legendary ad agency Johnstone & Cushing, which specialized in promotional ad-strips and comics for many years.

Included in this STOP AND GO, THE SAFETY TWINS giveaway comic are these stories, features and advertisements:

• "Those Knights Of Old Were Very Bold…They Wore Iron Suits". – Stop and Go, The Safety Twins, inform the reader about the armor of the knights of medieval England. It was an asset for protection, but was so heavy that, if thrown off of his horse, a knight was rendered helpless by gravity. The pointy-haired twins observe that, "Those heavy iron suits must have been mighty uncomfortable…but knocking each other around with spears and swords required a lot of protection…so they figured they’d rather be uncomfortable than unconscious!" Then the Safety Twins make a connection between medieval armor and modern pedestrians: "The way some of you dash across streets in front of cars and trucks and buses, anyone would think YOU were wearing armor!" Stop says, "STOP and think a minute before you dash across a street! You’re not wearing an iron suit, you know!" Go says, "GO when it’s safe to cross…here’s a story that will show you what we mean…" We see a boy who ignores the crossing guard, claiming that signals are "for sissies", and runs out into traffic, nearly getting squashed in the process. Stop sternly lectures the profusely sweating kid: "See? You nearly got hit by that car! Sure, you’re in a hurry – all kids are when school’s out – but that’s no reason to take foolish chances!" Go tosses in his two cents worth: "The school safety patrol officer is here to tell you when it’s safe to cross – follow his signals and you’ll keep out of trouble!" Go concluded, "There aren’t enough safety patrol officers to guard ALL crossings – so before you GO across ANY street – remember…" Stop picks up where Go left off: "…STOP at the curb – look both ways and for turning traffic – wait until it’s safe, then walk across the street!"

• "Flash Flood!" – While having a picnic alongside a small stream, Martha and her younger brother, John, are caught in a sudden summer shower. As the clouds open up, the siblings take shelter under a tree (but only because there’s no lightning in the sky!) Back home, Martha and John’s parents are alarmed when the hear a radio broadcast of a flood warning! Meanwhile, the river’s waters have risen to the point that the kids are forced to climb the tree’s trunk. When the river’s current sends a huge old tree trunk crashing into Martha and John’s tree, it’s uprooted as it falls across the raging river. Gingerly, the two kids make their way across the horizontal tree trunk, but when John slips on its wet bark, Martha doesn’t hesitate to dive into the floodwaters to rescue him. As she drags him to shore, they’re met by their concerned parents, who escort them home to recover .Stop says, "In an emergency DON’T LOSE YOUR HEAD!" Go says, "Be calm…be sure AND ACT QUICKLY!"

• "A Race Nobody Won!" – An unnamed boy invites little Jimmy to ride on his bicycle’s handlebars during a race to the corner against Betty and her roller skates. But as they accelerate toward the corner, neither of them see an approaching truck enter the intersection. Fortunately, the truck has good brakes and the boys walk away from the accident with only a few bruises and scrapes – but the bike was badly damaged. Stop says, "STOP taking chances on your bike…you can’t push a truck out of your way, you know!" Go says, "GO have fun…but remember, riding double invites trouble!"

• "The Settling Of The West". – "The year was 1843…John C. Fremont had just returned from a journey to Oregon with tales of its rich, fertile land, vast forests and wonderful climate. People in the East were fired with enthusiasm…among them the Wilson family…" Leaving from St. Louis, the Wilsons head west along the Oregon Trail. Their party stops for the night, the wagons drawn in a circle. But come the dawn, they’re attacked by hostile Indians, "proud in their war bonnets and hideous in their war paint". Finally, the Indians are driven off, carrying their dead and wounded. Pa Wilson congratulates his boy, "Nice goin’, son…you can stop shootin’ now They’re skedaddling! We’ll be getting’ on our way, too!" A few weeks later, the Wilsons’ party arrives at Fort Laramie, where they prepare for the hardest part of the trail – crossing the Rocky Mountains. "On the trail, the pioneers pass an Indian village, which, 61 years later, will be the little coal-mining town of Kemmerer, Wyoming, where Mr. J. C. Penney opened his first store." Passing the village, young Master Wilson comments, "Bet those Indians wouldn’t be so friendly if this wasn’t such a big wagon train!" As expected, the trail leading up into the Rockies is a hard one, but the way down proves to be even more difficult. Finally, the Wilsons’ wagon train reaches the Great Divide, and "after terrible hardships, hunger, cold, deserts, mountains, rushing torrents and hostile Indians", they reach Oregon, "just like the Promised Land!" Upon arriving, the weary pioneers give thanks to their Maker: "Let us give thinks for our safe arrival, friends, and say a prayer for those who died on the way here. This is now your home. Some day all this wilderness will be settled and a part of the United States!" This story ends with this caption: "America is proud of her courageous pioneers who overcame all difficulties in their search for freedom and self-determination. This same spirit of independence and liberty governs our people today making our United States the greatest nation on Earth!"

• "Wally Saves His Sister!" – Wally’s mother tells him to watch his little sister, but Wally has other ideas. But while Wally and his friends are playing baseball out in the street, they don’t see Sis as she runs out into the street trying to grab a rolling ball. As a car bears down on the little girl, Wally finally notices her – almost too late! Fortunately, he leaps forward, pushing her out of harm’s way by mere inches, with only minor injuries. Stop says, "STOP setting bad examples to the younger kids – how can they be taught not to run out in the streets if YOU play there?" Go says, "GO use the playgrounds or stay on the sidewalks – the streets are for traffic. Help protect the little kids from traffic accidents! Set them a GOOD example!"

• "The Girl Who Wouldn’t Give Up!" – In France, on March 22, 1822, a daughter named Marie Rosalie is born to fine artist Paul Bonheur. But Bonheur rejects his baby girl; he hoped to have a boy to follow in his footsteps, demanding to know "Who ever heard of a woman artist?" Despite this, Rosa (as she was called) studies for a career in art. But although her work is outstanding, her teachers discourage her, because she’s bound to meet failure in trying to sell her art. Never giving up, Rosa sends one of her paintings, "The Horse Fair", to the Paris Art Exhibition Of 1855. It’s met with a tremendous reaction! And in 1894, Rosa Bonheur is given the Grand Cross Of The Legion Of Honor, France’s highest honor, the first woman ever to receive the award. Her acceptance is a humble one: "I hope that I have shown that women can have careers as well as men!"

• "The Playground Is Safer!" – As Billy and his two pals leave school, they’re so anxious to play baseball, they even pester Jimmy the crossing guard to let them cross the street sooner. On their way to the playground, Billy hits a fly ball up and over the street. As his friends run to catch it, they fail to notice a car pulling out from the curb. Since the driver’s looking for oncoming traffic, he doesn’t notice the two boys who run into his path. Fortunately, he sees them just in time and stomps on the brakes. They might have been killed! Their knees shaking, the gang swears never to snag fly balls in the street again. Stop says, "STOP and think before you go dashing into the street to play! Don’t rely on the driver. He may be the careless kind." Go says, "GO to your playground where you’re safe!"

• A back-cover letter to the president of the J. C. Penney department stores from Ned H. Dearborn,. President of the National Safety Council that reads: "Mr. A. W. Hughes, President, J. C. Penney Company, Inc. 330 West 34th Street, New York 1, New York Dear Mr. Hughes: I have just seen with great interest the splendid little booklet you are planning to produce and distribute to young folks of the nation through your stores. All of us at the National Safety Council are delighted that you are doing this, and we regard it as an outstanding contribution to safety. Certainly children can be reached with safety messages better through a pleasant palatable medium such as your book than by ponderous, stuffy pronouncements on safety. Our sincere thanks to you and your company for helping prevent accidents among school children by this booklet. Sincerely yours, Ned H. Dearborn, President"
  

ODDBALL Factoid – Early in his career, cartoonist Neal Adams did a lot of work for the Johnstone & Cushing agency for many of their strip-ads and promotional comic books!

Next Week – ODDBALL COMIC # 1,126: MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2006 -- THE OFFICIAL SOUPY SALES COMIC BOOK MAGAZINE -- Make way for "The Prince Of Pies"! THE OFFICIAL SOUPY SALES COMIC BOOK MAGAZINE stars the legendary kids show host, with special appearances by Soupy’s Oddball friends, including White Fang, Black Tooth, Hippie the hippo, Pookie the lion, private eye Philo Kvetch – and Archie Andrews and the Riverdale gang! It’s more fun than dancing to "The Mouse" while getting hit in the face with a cream pie!

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